Antibiotics for a Tooth Infection

Posted by writeradmin

If you could help me I’d greatly appreciate it. I went to see my dentist because of a tooth infection. I was in a lot of pain. My dentist prescribed me some antibiotics. I did much better for a while. However, a few days after the antibiotics ran out, the swelling and pain started back up. I now have swelling up to my eyeball. What do I do? Should I take another round of antibiotics or do I need a different course?

Ellen

Dear Ellen,

I hope there is a misunderstanding here. Your dentist should have told you to schedule a second follow-up appointment to deal with the infected tooth. Antibiotics do not heal tooth infections. All they do is keep it under control until the real treatment can take place. The only way to truly treat a dental infection is for the dentist to physically get in there and remove the infected pulp. This is done either by a root canal treatment or a tooth extraction.

A root canal treatment is ideal because it means your tooth can be saved. If it cannot, then an extraction becomes necessary. This means you will also need a tooth replacement. If you don’t replace the tooth then the other teeth will shift or tip into the empty space. This will throw off your bite and can lead to painful TMJ Disorder.

I’m not sure if your dentist mentioned the follow-up appointment and you just didn’t hear him because you were in so much pain or if he does not understand tooth infections. My suggestion is you schedule an emergency dental appointment with him. Get another round of antibiotics to get the infection under control and as soon as it is, get in there for a root canal treatment to save that tooth.

This blog is brought to you by Mt. Dora Dentist Dr. Michelle Stillman.